One of the greatest turnarounds in college football history was led by quarterback Michael Penix who took an offense from being one of the worst overall to the top passing unit in the country. However, he had a lot of help on the way with one of the best offensive lines in the country and a receiving room replete with quality and depth.
On the other side of the ball the defense was a work in progress–especially in the defensive backfield that had more lineup changes than Elton John had wardrobe changes in a concert. That said, four defenders defenders made our list.
RealDawg.com’s writers each submitted their individual Washington Player Power Rankings Top 10. They are listed below in the order they finished:
- QB Michael Penix
- WR Rome Odunze
- Edge Bralen Trice
- WR Jalen McMillan
- OL Troy Fautanu
- Edge Jeremiah Martin
- RB Wayne Taulapapa
- K Peyton Henry
- OL Roger Rosengarten
- OL Jaxon Kirkland
- DL Tuli Letuligasenoa
- WR Ja’Lynn Polk
- DB Alex Cook
- RB Cam Davis
- OL Corey Luciano
It’s no surprise that Michael Penix was the top Dawg in RealDawg.com’s final Player Power Rankings as he was the key to not only the team’s success this season. He is the only player to receive a first place vote.
In statistical terms, Penix’s 4,641 passing yards is Washington’s single-season record. His 31 passing TDs is 3rd all-time for a Husky QB in a single season. He also recorded 3 of the top 10 passing yards in a game, including the top two. Against Arizona he threw for 516 yards and in Pullman he went for 485.
Number two overall was Rome Odunze, but all 3 of Washington’s top receivers, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk all received votes. However, the most valuable Washington receiver wasn’t always Odunze.
“McMillan and Odunze took turns as the WR1 all season,” said RealDawg’s Dawg and Duck Show host Warren Mainard. “McMillan’s ‘taker’ mentality allowed him to wrestle away a certain interception against Oregon’s Gonzales gives him the slight edge.”
Wayne Taulapapa became more a integral as the season went along, finishing with 3-straight 100 yard games on the ground. He finished the season with
”In the Alamo Bowl Taulapapa was the only player to go over 100 yards,” said Trevor Mueller. “His value to the team steadily increased in the final 6 weeks of the season.”
Mainard agreed adding, “In his final 4 games of the season, Taulapapa ran for 411 yards and 5 TD’s on 48 carries for an average of 8.6 yards per carry. That balance and ball control made UW a much more effective team.”
In the Alamo Bowl Taulapapa scored the game’s first TD and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb put the ball in his hands on the final 3 offensive plays of the season.
2023 was place kicker Peyton Henry’s redemption tour. In back-to-back weeks he hit game-winning field goals over Oregon State and Oregon. He ends his Husky career with
Both edge rushers, Bralen Trice and Jeremiah Martin were unanimous in this ranking but their polling position varied. Trice finished third overall in votes. However, on all of the ballots but one Trice was ahead of Martin. On several ballots Trice was number two player, overall.
Defensive lineman Tuli Letuligasenoa got better as the season went along. The Husky defense ranked 58th in the country in scoring, but was 26th against the run in yards per carry and yards per game. In giving up just 14 rushing touchdowns the Huskies finished 20th in nation.
Four of the Husky offensive linemen received votes, Center, Corey Luciano; left guard, Jaxon Kirkland; left tackle Troy Fautanu; and right tackle Roger Rosengarten. Kirkland was rated the highest OL on two ballots while Troy Fautanu appeared on all, giving him the higher ranking.
“The offensive line was the most-improved position group this season compared to last season,” said Mueller. “But when Kirkland came back and was moved to left guard and Fautanu slid out to left tackle was when the offensive line really took shape. That’s when the offensive line was at its best.”
Others receiving votes:
—DB Alex Cook is the only defensive back who made the list. The senior not only led the team in tackles, but he had one of the biggest plays of the season against Oregon.
In a defensive backfield that was ravaged with injuries Cook played every game as the Huskies pierced together seemingly a new lineup week-in and week-out.
—RB Cam Davis’ ability to find the end zone was impressive. Davis missed the Alamo Bowl and the Stanford game even so, his 13 TDs tied Jake Locker and Hugh McElhenny for 9th all time for a single season–despite not starting a game.
–OL Corey Luciano is the original transfer on this team. He began at Diablo Valley College in 2017, transferring to Washington in 2019 after sitting out a year. He was a rotational duty across the line, even suiting up as a tight end early in his Husky career. Finally a starter this season, the 6-4, 294-pound senior was awarded the Earle T. Glant Tough Husky Award at the team’s postseason awards banquet. He was also 3rd team all-conference selection.
